Sheffield Eagles star is battling niggling injury

Pat Walker is battling to return to fitness in time to help Sheffield Eagles’ fight for an end of season place in the middle eight.

The versatile operator is expected to be out of action for three to four weeks after the broken toe he picked up in the defeat to Bradford Bulls turned out worse than first feared.

Walker has had to watch from the sidelines over the past couple of weeks, seeing the best and worst of Mark Aston’s side in the hard fought victory over Dewsbury Rams, and the heavy defeat last weekend against London Broncos. The 29-year-old will now be targeting a return for the back end of the regular season, where he will be hoping to play a part as Eagles look to tighten their grip on a top four finish in the Kingstone Press Championship.

The former Dewsbury ace is hoping his team mates can rediscover top form, stating it will help his transition back into the side if the Eagles are in full flight. “It will be great to come back into a team that is playing well, that will make the transition of getting up to speed again much easier, so need try and build on our early season progress,” Walker said.

“It isn’t nice being injured; you feel out of the team. I’ve been training by myself at times as I’ve been the only one injured, so I’m looking forward to getting back to full fitness.”

Walker’s absence has been extended because he sustained damage to his ligament in the same injury. It is this secondary issue that is keeping him on the sidelines after it was initially believed he might be able to play with an injection.

“If it had have been just a break in the toe then I’d have been looking at a couple of weeks, but it is the ligament detaching itself which is the problem so we will have to see how that heals” Walker added.

“The hospital initially said four to five weeks, it has already been two weeks so hopefully I will be back s soon.”

Walker will be on the sidelines again tomorrow when Eagles travel to South Leeds Stadium looking to complete a league double over Hunslet Hawks, (8pm.)